We have opportunities at the start of each day to set our minds and priorities right. Have you ever been laying in bed and your mind starts focusing on all the negative things that happened yesterday? If you leave your mind in neutral and let it wonder and focus on the negative, you will set yourself up for a lousy day. You need to be proactive and focus on the positive, higher things and set yourself up for a Great Day! Do you know what your doing when you focus on the Higher things, the positive things? You are saying to yourself you are not going to let someone else set your agenda and spoil my day. You are choosing to be happy! You are saying I am not going to focus on my problems and disappointments, I am going to focus on my blessings and today is going to be a Great Day!
It was unseasonably warm for the winter. I went outside and heard the birds singing and making melody. I asked the birds: Why are you singing and being so happy? Didn't you read the paper today? Do you know what the stock market did? Do you know the price of gas is? The birds are not worried about the circumstances they know their Heavenly Father will take care of them.
Matthew 6:26
26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Continually: How long are we suppose to be happy? Are we do happy only when the sun is shinning? Only when people treat us right? When things are going our way? Only when the stock market is up?
Always: We are suppose to be happy when the sun is shining or when it is cloudy! When is is raining or when it is snowing! When people treat us right or when we are criticized! When the market is up or down!
You may not be able to see the Sun right now in your life. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, it's cloudy, but just above the clouds the sun is shining.
Human nature seems to focus on the negative when things are not going our way, but he bible tell us to do something different.
James 1:2
Count it all joy when you run into temptation.
On the other side of every obstacle is reward. On the other side of every set back is a comeback, behind every cloud there is sunshine.
The Bible tells us to react just the opposite of human nature: Smile, Be Glad, In all circumstances.
We need to be like the birds: Be faithful to God knowing He will take care of us!
Put Your Hope in the LORD! Thank God in all Circumstances and remain Joyful!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Time Flies - A Fathers Perspective
I was there when both daughters were born. My oldest daughter I was in the delivery room, saw her full head of hair heard her scream and was the first to hold her. What a blessing. Many health complications had beset us when my second daughter was born. My wife became a diabetic, brought on from the first child berth, She was born at Vanderbilt hospital and watched very carefully. My wife was in labor for nearly 24 hours in a very controlled environment. I was in the delivery room, but the doctor asked me to leave as the birth began, I heard her cry and then I was invited back in the room, and enjoyed hold her and showing her to my beautiful wife.
My wife is an angel like most wives are tending to their every need: homemaker, paying the bills,doctor and dentist appointments, grocery shopping, taxicab driver to everything.
But where was I? I was working. 60-70 hours a week traveling,home on weekends, but other that that I was absent. My wife ran the Show, and God Bless her for it! I owe a lot to her she is an angel. I would attend baseball and basketball games, teacher conferences,plays,events my children were in, but other than that I was married to my "JOB." I tried to make each weekend special,: I would cook breakfast, pancakes in many shapes, special egg dishes, vacations were a treat as well! But come Monday morning at 6AM I was off to the races- MY JOB! At My retirement I said it was like a "34 year marathon."
If you are a Young Father read some excerpts from a couple of studies I have read and also some things I have learned through the world of Hard Knocks.
Believe when I tell you this
You will take time for your kids now or you will make time for them later!
A study from the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found a connection between "frequent family dinners" and lower rates of teen smoking, drinking and drug use. Specifically:
"Compared with teens who frequently had dinner with their families, (five nights or more per week) those who had dinner with their families only two nights per week or less were twice as likely to be involved in substance abuse. They were 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes, more than 1.5 times as likely to drink alcohol, and nearly three times as likely to try marijuana."
Another study, published in the journal Family Relations:
It noted that children who succeed in school tend to have mothers "who frequently talk and listen to them." Fathers, too, make quite a difference. Here's how familyfacts.org sums up a study on the impact of dads that ran in the Journal of Marriage and the Family: "Compared to peers with less paternal attention, children whose fathers spent leisure time, shared meals, helped with homework or reading, and engaged in other home activities with them have significantly higher levels of academic performance.
Harry Chapin Wrote a Song "Cats in the Cradle" in 1974.
I listened to this song and lived it. The song is told in first-person by a father who is too busy to spend time with his son. Though the son repeatedly asks him to join in childhood activities, the father always responds with little more than vague promises of spending time together in the future, which is peppered with images from nursery rhymes. While the son longs to spend time with his father, he continues to admire his father as a role model and tells him that he will be just like him when he is an adult. The third verse shows the son now having his own life in college and the father now wants to spend time with him. However, like his father, the son now does not have time for his father, pursuing his own life.
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
"
My wife is an angel like most wives are tending to their every need: homemaker, paying the bills,doctor and dentist appointments, grocery shopping, taxicab driver to everything.
But where was I? I was working. 60-70 hours a week traveling,home on weekends, but other that that I was absent. My wife ran the Show, and God Bless her for it! I owe a lot to her she is an angel. I would attend baseball and basketball games, teacher conferences,plays,events my children were in, but other than that I was married to my "JOB." I tried to make each weekend special,: I would cook breakfast, pancakes in many shapes, special egg dishes, vacations were a treat as well! But come Monday morning at 6AM I was off to the races- MY JOB! At My retirement I said it was like a "34 year marathon."
If you are a Young Father read some excerpts from a couple of studies I have read and also some things I have learned through the world of Hard Knocks.
Believe when I tell you this
You will take time for your kids now or you will make time for them later!
A study from the National Center of Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found a connection between "frequent family dinners" and lower rates of teen smoking, drinking and drug use. Specifically:
"Compared with teens who frequently had dinner with their families, (five nights or more per week) those who had dinner with their families only two nights per week or less were twice as likely to be involved in substance abuse. They were 2.5 times as likely to smoke cigarettes, more than 1.5 times as likely to drink alcohol, and nearly three times as likely to try marijuana."
Another study, published in the journal Family Relations:
It noted that children who succeed in school tend to have mothers "who frequently talk and listen to them." Fathers, too, make quite a difference. Here's how familyfacts.org sums up a study on the impact of dads that ran in the Journal of Marriage and the Family: "Compared to peers with less paternal attention, children whose fathers spent leisure time, shared meals, helped with homework or reading, and engaged in other home activities with them have significantly higher levels of academic performance.
Harry Chapin Wrote a Song "Cats in the Cradle" in 1974.
I listened to this song and lived it. The song is told in first-person by a father who is too busy to spend time with his son. Though the son repeatedly asks him to join in childhood activities, the father always responds with little more than vague promises of spending time together in the future, which is peppered with images from nursery rhymes. While the son longs to spend time with his father, he continues to admire his father as a role model and tells him that he will be just like him when he is an adult. The third verse shows the son now having his own life in college and the father now wants to spend time with him. However, like his father, the son now does not have time for his father, pursuing his own life.
My child arrived just the other day
He came to the world in the usual way
But there were planes to catch and bills to pay
He learned to walk while I was away
And he was talkin' 'fore I knew it, and as he grew
He'd say "I'm gonna be like you dad
You know I'm gonna be like you"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home dad?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
My son turned ten just the other day
He said, "Thanks for the ball, Dad, come on let's play
Can you teach me to throw", I said "Not today
I got a lot to do", he said, "That's ok"
And he walked away but his smile never dimmed
And said, "I'm gonna be like him, yeah
You know I'm gonna be like him"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
Well, he came home from college just the other day
So much like a man I just had to say
"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while?"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please?"
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"
And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me
And the cat's in the cradle and the silver spoon
Little boy blue and the man on the moon
When you comin' home son?
I don't know when, but we'll get together then son
You know we'll have a good time then
"
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thank God for Rednecks
You Might Be a Redneck....a different take
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya'll are.
You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'
You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.
You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'
You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.
You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.
You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.
You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.
You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.
You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.
You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.
Jeff Foxworthy
God Bless the USA!
Keep the fire burning, redneck friend.
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN
FRONT OF THEM.
IN GOD WE TRUST
We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It's time to take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I'd choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.. Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit -- that's what rednecks are made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the same, pass this on to your redneck friends. Ya'll know who ya'll are.
You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to be offended by the phrase, 'One nation, under God.'
You might be a redneck if: You've never protested about seeing the 10 Commandments posted in public places.
You might be a redneck if: You still say ' Christmas' instead of 'Winter Festival.'
You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when someone prays.
You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.
You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces veterans with great respect, and always have.
You might be a redneck if: You've never burned an American flag, nor intend to.
You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe and you aren't afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.
You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and raised your kids to do the same.
You might be a redneck if: You'd give your last dollar to a friend.
Jeff Foxworthy
God Bless the USA!
Keep the fire burning, redneck friend.
IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND OUR TROOPS FEEL FREE TO STAND IN
FRONT OF THEM.
IN GOD WE TRUST
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Merry Christmas Weeweechu
It's a romantic full moon, when Pedro said, "Hey, mamacita,
let's do Weeweechu."
Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.
Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love
you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.
"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon."
replied Rosita.
Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."
Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do
Weeweechu."
Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....
"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,
Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
let's do Weeweechu."
Oh no, not now, let's look at the moon!" said Rosita.
Oh, c'mon baby, let's you and I do Weeweechu. I love
you and it's the perfect time," Pedro begged.
"But I wanna just hold your hand and watch the moon."
replied Rosita.
Please, corazoncito, just once, do Weeweechu with me."
Rosita looked at Pedro and said, "OK, one time, we'll do
Weeweechu."
Pedro grabbed his guitar and they both sang.....
"Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, Weeweechu a Merry Christmas,
Weeweechu a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year."
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Friday, December 18, 2009
What is the Product of Faith?
Matthew 13:30-32
30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
A Modern Day Example of a Great Harvest
Big accomplishments amaze me. Let's use Joel Osteen, as an example at Lakewood Church, Houston Texas. You know everything is bigger and better in Texas!(Comes naturally from my Texas Roots).
There was a three year court battle between the Lakewood church and the "Largest Tax paying Company" in Texas to secure the Compact Center, the former home of the Houston Rockets. There was several legal wranglings that happened, each one that happened was detrimental to the Lakewood Church coming out on the positive end of the battle. Joel and his wife Victoria, never took their eyes off the goal and continued with "uncommon faith" through the whole ordeal. Even when members of the Lakewood team, saw no way they would be successful, and were willing to throw in the towel, Joel and his wife did not listen to the negative.
Joel tells the story that during the ordeal He and his wife Victoria would drive down to the Compact Center at night, walk around the parking lot "hands raised praising God for delivering this Center for the church." Their faith would not be threatened no matter what was being said publicly.
Romans 4:17 calls things that are not as though they were.
What were the results?
After a Three year Court battle and the final vote was made by the City Council, Against Powerful Odds, Lakewood was victorious, the Former Compact Center is now the Home of Lakewood Church.
Lakewood church from a small faith the size of a Mustard seed is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is the largest congregation in the United States, averaging more than 43,500 in attendance per week, and that number does not include his TV audience. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church Central Campus is located at the former Compaq Center.] Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife,Victoria, who serves as co-pastor. Lakewood's congregation increased almost five-fold.
Biblical Examples
Read Hebrews 11 The Faith chapter and see the many people listed who demonstrated faith:
Noah building the Ark and it had never rained? Moses leading people out of Egypt and parting the Red Sea on Gods command? Abraham was promised the father of many nations and by all accounts he and his wife were well beyond birthing years and Sarah had baby Isaac at 90, Abraham was 100.
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed and demonstrate that faith,
Look at what can happen!
A Great Harvest!
There is an old sayin' in Texas "Its not the size of the dawg in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dawg!"
God is Great! God is Good!
30Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
31He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
A Modern Day Example of a Great Harvest
Big accomplishments amaze me. Let's use Joel Osteen, as an example at Lakewood Church, Houston Texas. You know everything is bigger and better in Texas!(Comes naturally from my Texas Roots).
There was a three year court battle between the Lakewood church and the "Largest Tax paying Company" in Texas to secure the Compact Center, the former home of the Houston Rockets. There was several legal wranglings that happened, each one that happened was detrimental to the Lakewood Church coming out on the positive end of the battle. Joel and his wife Victoria, never took their eyes off the goal and continued with "uncommon faith" through the whole ordeal. Even when members of the Lakewood team, saw no way they would be successful, and were willing to throw in the towel, Joel and his wife did not listen to the negative.
Joel tells the story that during the ordeal He and his wife Victoria would drive down to the Compact Center at night, walk around the parking lot "hands raised praising God for delivering this Center for the church." Their faith would not be threatened no matter what was being said publicly.
Romans 4:17 calls things that are not as though they were.
What were the results?
After a Three year Court battle and the final vote was made by the City Council, Against Powerful Odds, Lakewood was victorious, the Former Compact Center is now the Home of Lakewood Church.
Lakewood church from a small faith the size of a Mustard seed is a non-denominational Christian megachurch located in Houston, Texas. It is the largest congregation in the United States, averaging more than 43,500 in attendance per week, and that number does not include his TV audience. The 16,800-seat Lakewood Church Central Campus is located at the former Compaq Center.] Joel Osteen is the senior pastor of Lakewood Church with his wife,Victoria, who serves as co-pastor. Lakewood's congregation increased almost five-fold.
Biblical Examples
Read Hebrews 11 The Faith chapter and see the many people listed who demonstrated faith:
Noah building the Ark and it had never rained? Moses leading people out of Egypt and parting the Red Sea on Gods command? Abraham was promised the father of many nations and by all accounts he and his wife were well beyond birthing years and Sarah had baby Isaac at 90, Abraham was 100.
If you have faith the size of a mustard seed and demonstrate that faith,
Look at what can happen!
A Great Harvest!
There is an old sayin' in Texas "Its not the size of the dawg in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dawg!"
God is Great! God is Good!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Have Faith the Grain of a Mustard Seed!
Matthew 17:20
20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Jesus explicitly attributes their inability to the smallness of their faith, pointing out that even a mustard seed's worth of faith would be sufficient to cast out not merely demons but mountains (1 Cor 13:2). Ancient peoples thought of mountains as rooted far beneath the earth, so "moving mountains" was a typical Jewish teacher's image for doing what was virtually impossible.
Like children who have only begun to walk, most of us have only begun our faith walk.
Remember, the faith of a little child before they take that first step? Standing up with the help of a couch or chair and we as an excited parent, stretching our arms encouraging our child to trust me, let go, and take that step. Then finally after much encouragement the child finally trust the parent, falls a couple of times , but then, understands that "Dad" will not let them fall, They may trip, but will not totally fall, Dad will help me up. Dad wants the child to look into his eyes, Trust him! Let Go! and I will be there for you.
I remember Christy, she is 32 now, when she first started walking, she was so used to holding on to Mom and Dads hands and walking between us, as we taught her how to let go and walk, she held both hands in the air pretending to hold our hands, which were no longer connected, but in her mind, she was still connected.
She was still receiving that strength through her "mental perception."
God is the same way with His children. He wants us to have Faith. Even if it as small as a mustard seed.
If you can picture a poppy seed, there EXTEREMLY tiny, (less than 1/2)of that, then you have a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
We are talking really, really small!
So Let Go and Let God! He is there! Even though we have let Go, we are still "mentally connected." Have that faith of a mustard seed!
20He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Jesus explicitly attributes their inability to the smallness of their faith, pointing out that even a mustard seed's worth of faith would be sufficient to cast out not merely demons but mountains (1 Cor 13:2). Ancient peoples thought of mountains as rooted far beneath the earth, so "moving mountains" was a typical Jewish teacher's image for doing what was virtually impossible.
Like children who have only begun to walk, most of us have only begun our faith walk.
Remember, the faith of a little child before they take that first step? Standing up with the help of a couch or chair and we as an excited parent, stretching our arms encouraging our child to trust me, let go, and take that step. Then finally after much encouragement the child finally trust the parent, falls a couple of times , but then, understands that "Dad" will not let them fall, They may trip, but will not totally fall, Dad will help me up. Dad wants the child to look into his eyes, Trust him! Let Go! and I will be there for you.
I remember Christy, she is 32 now, when she first started walking, she was so used to holding on to Mom and Dads hands and walking between us, as we taught her how to let go and walk, she held both hands in the air pretending to hold our hands, which were no longer connected, but in her mind, she was still connected.
She was still receiving that strength through her "mental perception."
God is the same way with His children. He wants us to have Faith. Even if it as small as a mustard seed.
If you can picture a poppy seed, there EXTEREMLY tiny, (less than 1/2)of that, then you have a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are about one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter.
We are talking really, really small!
So Let Go and Let God! He is there! Even though we have let Go, we are still "mentally connected." Have that faith of a mustard seed!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Be Joyful Always
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
According to www.biblegateway.com the NIV version of the Bible has 244 instances where joy is mentioned in some form.
The definition:
A condition of supreme well-being and good spirits.
1. To fill with ecstatic happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction.
2. To enjoy.
I think we all know what joy is but how do we you apply it in all circumstances?
How does the widow who just lost her husband in long battle with cancer? Where does she find joy?
How does a young family trying to have their first child after 2 miscarriages already and in danger of loosing the third? Where is their joy?
How does the mother with three children, homeless, hungry with no place to stay on a cold winter night, where does she find joy?
The husband who was told today he is no longer needed at his job. He has to bring that news home to his wife and children. Where is his joy?
Where does the prisoner, imprisoned for 28 years for a rape he said he did not commit. Now, with DNA evidence he is set free, because he did not do it. Where does he find joy?
When our joy is in the Lord, it cannot be taken away or stolen because He is eternal and what He promises to do He does. (John 16:22, 33) The Lord wants our Joy to be full and eternal.The key is for us to look to Christ, not to our situation, and declare our circumstances as joy.This does not mean to give up and do nothing; it means to refocus our energies into productivity and faith—not questions and bitterness. It is to have our convictions and fulfillment in Christ, not circumstances.
I asked my 6 year old grandson what is joy? He said "it is when you are really happy" Where does he see it? He said "he sees it everywhere he sees God"
In my earlier examples of circumstances and where is their joy?
Joy is not in the circumstances it is in Christ, so the people you come in contact with.
The woman who lost her husband, the family with 2 miscarriages, the homeless mother, the husband who lost his job, to the prisoner.
The joy they have is in Christ, Christ is in you,,,,so if they are to receive Christ and encounter that message of joy it is only through you that the message of Joy will be delivered. Reach out your hand!
Out of the mouth of a 6 year old boy named Christian
16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
According to www.biblegateway.com the NIV version of the Bible has 244 instances where joy is mentioned in some form.
The definition:
A condition of supreme well-being and good spirits.
1. To fill with ecstatic happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction.
2. To enjoy.
I think we all know what joy is but how do we you apply it in all circumstances?
How does the widow who just lost her husband in long battle with cancer? Where does she find joy?
How does a young family trying to have their first child after 2 miscarriages already and in danger of loosing the third? Where is their joy?
How does the mother with three children, homeless, hungry with no place to stay on a cold winter night, where does she find joy?
The husband who was told today he is no longer needed at his job. He has to bring that news home to his wife and children. Where is his joy?
Where does the prisoner, imprisoned for 28 years for a rape he said he did not commit. Now, with DNA evidence he is set free, because he did not do it. Where does he find joy?
When our joy is in the Lord, it cannot be taken away or stolen because He is eternal and what He promises to do He does. (John 16:22, 33) The Lord wants our Joy to be full and eternal.The key is for us to look to Christ, not to our situation, and declare our circumstances as joy.This does not mean to give up and do nothing; it means to refocus our energies into productivity and faith—not questions and bitterness. It is to have our convictions and fulfillment in Christ, not circumstances.
I asked my 6 year old grandson what is joy? He said "it is when you are really happy" Where does he see it? He said "he sees it everywhere he sees God"
In my earlier examples of circumstances and where is their joy?
Joy is not in the circumstances it is in Christ, so the people you come in contact with.
The woman who lost her husband, the family with 2 miscarriages, the homeless mother, the husband who lost his job, to the prisoner.
The joy they have is in Christ, Christ is in you,,,,so if they are to receive Christ and encounter that message of joy it is only through you that the message of Joy will be delivered. Reach out your hand!
Out of the mouth of a 6 year old boy named Christian
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Have a Radical, Extreme, UnCommon Faith
Radical Faith gets Extreme Results when you release your faith in uncommon ways you will receive extraordinary blessings.
Remember in the Book of Joshua, Joshua was fighting the Amorites, they had been fighting all day and Joshua could see he was winning the battle, so he asked God to have the sun stand still so he could finish off his enemy.
Can you imagine the boldness and nerve to ask God to stop the universe so you can kill the enemy?
God could have said "Joshua Who do you think you are?" that is kind of selfish to ask to stop the sun, interfere with the rest of the world so you can kill people?
But what did God do? He turned to his angels and said listen to this man, he is radical he is extreme he is bold, He believes I have the power to do anything!
God said. Your Bold enough to ask it I am Bold enough to do it!
God interrupted the entire universe to answer this prayer.
"Stop the Sun!" God answered Joshua's prayer.
Joshua 10:12-14
Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on [b] its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
Do you ever go beyond your daily needs do you ever ask for the extraordinary?
Your Health: The doctor gives you a bad report. It is impossible for you to get well. Do you put your trust in the doctors report or God? Do you ask and believe for His healing power?
Your Finances: You don't believe you have the money to pay your monthly house, and instead you ask to pay the whole thing off. You know Gods favor is upon you. He has you in the palm of his hand. You are blessed you will lend and will not borrow.
Do you ask and believe?
Your situations: Legal problem that you see no way out of. You have a problem with a neighbor you need help working it out. You are having problems with a client and you need to ask for guidance to have a good outcome.
There is no obstacle to big for God. If he can stop the Sun and freeze the Universe for a few hours. He can help you with your problems, no matter how big and insignificant you think they are.
Ask for breaks you don't even deserve.
This may sound far out but we serve a Far out God!
God has a way even when it looks like there is no way.
When your down to nothing, Stay in Faith, because God is up to Something.
Take the limits off God. Release your faith in a greater way.
Taken from a sermon I heard from Joel Osteen June 17, 2009.
Remember in the Book of Joshua, Joshua was fighting the Amorites, they had been fighting all day and Joshua could see he was winning the battle, so he asked God to have the sun stand still so he could finish off his enemy.
Can you imagine the boldness and nerve to ask God to stop the universe so you can kill the enemy?
God could have said "Joshua Who do you think you are?" that is kind of selfish to ask to stop the sun, interfere with the rest of the world so you can kill people?
But what did God do? He turned to his angels and said listen to this man, he is radical he is extreme he is bold, He believes I have the power to do anything!
God said. Your Bold enough to ask it I am Bold enough to do it!
God interrupted the entire universe to answer this prayer.
"Stop the Sun!" God answered Joshua's prayer.
Joshua 10:12-14
Joshua said to the LORD in the presence of Israel:
"O sun, stand still over Gibeon,
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still,
and the moon stopped,
till the nation avenged itself on [b] its enemies,
as it is written in the Book of Jashar.
The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the LORD listened to a man. Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel!
Do you ever go beyond your daily needs do you ever ask for the extraordinary?
Your Health: The doctor gives you a bad report. It is impossible for you to get well. Do you put your trust in the doctors report or God? Do you ask and believe for His healing power?
Your Finances: You don't believe you have the money to pay your monthly house, and instead you ask to pay the whole thing off. You know Gods favor is upon you. He has you in the palm of his hand. You are blessed you will lend and will not borrow.
Do you ask and believe?
Your situations: Legal problem that you see no way out of. You have a problem with a neighbor you need help working it out. You are having problems with a client and you need to ask for guidance to have a good outcome.
There is no obstacle to big for God. If he can stop the Sun and freeze the Universe for a few hours. He can help you with your problems, no matter how big and insignificant you think they are.
Ask for breaks you don't even deserve.
This may sound far out but we serve a Far out God!
God has a way even when it looks like there is no way.
When your down to nothing, Stay in Faith, because God is up to Something.
Take the limits off God. Release your faith in a greater way.
Taken from a sermon I heard from Joel Osteen June 17, 2009.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
A Tribute to Sterling the Cat.....another animal story....a gift from God
My brother Scott and his wife Janet had a cat named Sterling. Sterling was a Siamese, very protective and ran the house for nearly 20 years, long time to live for a cat.
Sterling would do the usual things cats would do, but he had some real great qualities as well. When Scott or Janet would arrive home Sterling would hear the garage door opening, would run to the back door, climb on the washer and dryer and be there when door was open to greet his "parents."
Sterling had a mind of his own and if he thought he was being left in the house too long, while they were away on a trip, they would find little surprises like, forgetting where the litter box was while they were gone. Or, something knocked over and a mess made, to let them know he was still "king" and they better not forget it. It was his way of letting them know he was not happy being left for this long and they had better not do it again! Like any kid will do, they will try to find someway to remind you, "Hay! remember me! I am still here and don't you forget it."
Scott , being the pesty little brother he could be sometimes, would play rough with Sterling and keep him a little on the edgy side. Scott would say protective, not edgy. Scott trained Sterling to sit on his lap and if another cat or Janet would come by to sit next to Scott , Sterling would act as a "guard cat" and begin signaling through growling or arching his back, "you are not welcome here." The visitor would get the message and move on, even ,scratch, claw or bite if necessary, to make them move.
The protective instinct and love that Sterling had for Janet and Scott was demonstrated one night in 1995. Scott had cleaned the stove one night, probably a rare occasion, but he accidentally bumped a knob and ever so slightly turned on the gas unknowingly. They went to bed as normal, about fours later Sterling came into their bedroom and started raising Cain. Scott woke up with with a terrible headache took some aspirin and laid back down to go back to sleep, but Sterling would have no part of it. He got on Scott's chest and began slapping him in the face, meowing, saying in cat language "get up silly something is wrong." Janet woke up from all the commotion and said "I smell gas," right away they went to the kitchen and discovered one of the knobs turned ever so slightly.
Sterling had saved their life. He knew something was wrong , but did not know how to fix it, so he did the only thing he knew to do, go wake up the "parents."
Sterling lived for nearly 20 years, he was a great companion. He was diagnosed with kidney problems and arthritis, and had to be put down. To this day Scott and Janet talk fondly of their little "cat" and miss him every now and then. They have other cats but not one of them can ever replace Sterling and his heroic deed that night.
Animals are God's messenger sometimes and we should never forget that.
A Tribute to Sterling
Sterling would do the usual things cats would do, but he had some real great qualities as well. When Scott or Janet would arrive home Sterling would hear the garage door opening, would run to the back door, climb on the washer and dryer and be there when door was open to greet his "parents."
Sterling had a mind of his own and if he thought he was being left in the house too long, while they were away on a trip, they would find little surprises like, forgetting where the litter box was while they were gone. Or, something knocked over and a mess made, to let them know he was still "king" and they better not forget it. It was his way of letting them know he was not happy being left for this long and they had better not do it again! Like any kid will do, they will try to find someway to remind you, "Hay! remember me! I am still here and don't you forget it."
Scott , being the pesty little brother he could be sometimes, would play rough with Sterling and keep him a little on the edgy side. Scott would say protective, not edgy. Scott trained Sterling to sit on his lap and if another cat or Janet would come by to sit next to Scott , Sterling would act as a "guard cat" and begin signaling through growling or arching his back, "you are not welcome here." The visitor would get the message and move on, even ,scratch, claw or bite if necessary, to make them move.
The protective instinct and love that Sterling had for Janet and Scott was demonstrated one night in 1995. Scott had cleaned the stove one night, probably a rare occasion, but he accidentally bumped a knob and ever so slightly turned on the gas unknowingly. They went to bed as normal, about fours later Sterling came into their bedroom and started raising Cain. Scott woke up with with a terrible headache took some aspirin and laid back down to go back to sleep, but Sterling would have no part of it. He got on Scott's chest and began slapping him in the face, meowing, saying in cat language "get up silly something is wrong." Janet woke up from all the commotion and said "I smell gas," right away they went to the kitchen and discovered one of the knobs turned ever so slightly.
Sterling had saved their life. He knew something was wrong , but did not know how to fix it, so he did the only thing he knew to do, go wake up the "parents."
Sterling lived for nearly 20 years, he was a great companion. He was diagnosed with kidney problems and arthritis, and had to be put down. To this day Scott and Janet talk fondly of their little "cat" and miss him every now and then. They have other cats but not one of them can ever replace Sterling and his heroic deed that night.
Animals are God's messenger sometimes and we should never forget that.
A Tribute to Sterling
Friday, December 11, 2009
How do you handle criticism?
Andy Andrews points out in his Seven Decisions how to handle criticism.
How criticism can cause people not to perform or carry on, We roll up in a fetal position suck our thumb and sulk for hours, even days?
Does criticism hurt? You bet it does.
Does it keep you from succeeding? Absolutely.
Do you freeze from doing anything? Yes we do.
He describes the process Mother Teresa went through to be "Sainted":
A Tribunal made up of Bishops from the Catholic Church was set up to review Mother Teresa. Testimony from many people was made to a gallery of people over days and weeks. Why we should make Mother Teresa a Saint?
They testified on all the good things Mother Teresa did.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta helped thousands of the poorest of the poor of India. In fact, I cannot think of any harm she has done at all. Some anti-religious, anti-Christian, and anti-Catholic people are tried to make a big deal about Mother Teresa's struggle with her own spirituality. Mother Teresa was not perfect and did not have it easy. She was a real human being with real thoughts and feelings. Just like the rest of us, sometimes she felt close to God and, at times, felt abandoned by God. She wrote in one of her letters, "I am told God lives in me -- and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul." Her letters show a real human struggle with her own spirituality and shows her humanity. Even Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Sometimes it seems to be the people with the greatest souls have the greatest doubts.
The a second group came and testified in Why she should not become a saint.
They said they heard her cuss one time and her intent was not really to help people,, etc. etc.
Most criticisms lobbied against her was that her health care facilities were inadequate and that she and her missionaries of charity were "ignorant" in regards to medical treatment and proper health care.
Let's get real! Mother Teresa did something. She took ACTION.
So my conclusion is if they are bad mouthing Mother Teresa you and I don't have a chance anyway!
so we might as well ignore it!
As Eleanor Roosevelt says:
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”
And that is the conclusion I draw, Ignore it! People are going to find fault in any thing you do! But, the difference is your doing something!
May God Bless.
Michael Mack, An American
Quotes on Criticism:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”
Benjamin Franklin
“When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.”
Unknown
“I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”
Charles Schwab
“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing”
Aristotle
How criticism can cause people not to perform or carry on, We roll up in a fetal position suck our thumb and sulk for hours, even days?
Does criticism hurt? You bet it does.
Does it keep you from succeeding? Absolutely.
Do you freeze from doing anything? Yes we do.
He describes the process Mother Teresa went through to be "Sainted":
A Tribunal made up of Bishops from the Catholic Church was set up to review Mother Teresa. Testimony from many people was made to a gallery of people over days and weeks. Why we should make Mother Teresa a Saint?
They testified on all the good things Mother Teresa did.
Mother Teresa of Calcutta helped thousands of the poorest of the poor of India. In fact, I cannot think of any harm she has done at all. Some anti-religious, anti-Christian, and anti-Catholic people are tried to make a big deal about Mother Teresa's struggle with her own spirituality. Mother Teresa was not perfect and did not have it easy. She was a real human being with real thoughts and feelings. Just like the rest of us, sometimes she felt close to God and, at times, felt abandoned by God. She wrote in one of her letters, "I am told God lives in me -- and yet the reality of darkness and coldness and emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul." Her letters show a real human struggle with her own spirituality and shows her humanity. Even Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" Sometimes it seems to be the people with the greatest souls have the greatest doubts.
The a second group came and testified in Why she should not become a saint.
They said they heard her cuss one time and her intent was not really to help people,, etc. etc.
Most criticisms lobbied against her was that her health care facilities were inadequate and that she and her missionaries of charity were "ignorant" in regards to medical treatment and proper health care.
Let's get real! Mother Teresa did something. She took ACTION.
So my conclusion is if they are bad mouthing Mother Teresa you and I don't have a chance anyway!
so we might as well ignore it!
As Eleanor Roosevelt says:
“Do what you feel in your heart to be right – for you’ll be criticized anyway. You’ll be damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.”
And that is the conclusion I draw, Ignore it! People are going to find fault in any thing you do! But, the difference is your doing something!
May God Bless.
Michael Mack, An American
Quotes on Criticism:
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Theodore Roosevelt
“Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.”
Benjamin Franklin
“When we judge or criticize another person, it says nothing about that person; it merely says something about our own need to be critical.”
Unknown
“I have yet to find the man, however exalted his station, who did not do better work and put forth greater effort under a spirit of approval than under a spirit of criticism.”
Charles Schwab
“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing”
Aristotle
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Harley - A friend for Life
"Harley" is a chocolate lab we have had for about 4 years. She was probably 3-4 when we got her. She will bark like she will take your head off, but will love you to death, once she knows you are a friend. I had a black lab "Duke" we had for 11 years, that succumbed to bad hips, he could not get up on his own,had a stroke, and had to be put down. We took Duke to the Vet and he gave us the news that Duke would not get any better. He could be given some drugs that would help for a while but he would need to be helped up every time he would lye down or sit. The only other option was to have him put down. Although, it was a terrible option it was the best for Duke, rather than see him suffer. I cried that day, because of the loss of such a friend. We got Harley the year before because we knew Duke was getting old and would soon leave us. Duke had been run over when we lived in Atlanta but survived the accident and lived for many years after.
I write this in view of Harley and what a comfort she is: I freely admit that I am not always perfect, and many times she has not been treated with the utmost respect she deserves,but she is always there. This morning it was 22 degrees, she slept in the garage, at 6 am I let her out, fed her and she did her usual romp with me down the hill to feed the horses. The driveway is about half a mile. She runs down the hill sits or lyes down until I am ready to return to the house and then she runs back up the hill, a little slower coming up, but then, she sits on top of the hill sitting in all her majesty, in front of the house daring anyone to come up the hill.
I call her to me and it does not matter what I have done or not done, It does not matter, if I have been good or evil to her, I will get the tail wag, the body wiggling in all shapes, sit down in front of me and will sit there and let me pat her on the head and let me pass on my gratitude, to her for all she has done for me.
I don't deserve the love, but it is given freely.
I am grateful for the unconditional Love Harley shows me.
I am grateful to Harley, that she can make the saddest person smile.
I am Grateful to Harley because she helps me heal and brings me comfort.
I am Grateful to God, He created Harley to help me through life.
I am Grateful that the animals reveal compassion, teach hope and forgiveness, and serve as a barometer to measure feelings.
Harley is Great, she was created by God and she helps me through the day. It does not matter whatever is going on, She will show me love, just as God does.
What a great companion.
God is Great God is Good. Harley is a messenger from God.
Michael Mack, An American
I write this in view of Harley and what a comfort she is: I freely admit that I am not always perfect, and many times she has not been treated with the utmost respect she deserves,but she is always there. This morning it was 22 degrees, she slept in the garage, at 6 am I let her out, fed her and she did her usual romp with me down the hill to feed the horses. The driveway is about half a mile. She runs down the hill sits or lyes down until I am ready to return to the house and then she runs back up the hill, a little slower coming up, but then, she sits on top of the hill sitting in all her majesty, in front of the house daring anyone to come up the hill.
I call her to me and it does not matter what I have done or not done, It does not matter, if I have been good or evil to her, I will get the tail wag, the body wiggling in all shapes, sit down in front of me and will sit there and let me pat her on the head and let me pass on my gratitude, to her for all she has done for me.
I don't deserve the love, but it is given freely.
I am grateful for the unconditional Love Harley shows me.
I am grateful to Harley, that she can make the saddest person smile.
I am Grateful to Harley because she helps me heal and brings me comfort.
I am Grateful to God, He created Harley to help me through life.
I am Grateful that the animals reveal compassion, teach hope and forgiveness, and serve as a barometer to measure feelings.
Harley is Great, she was created by God and she helps me through the day. It does not matter whatever is going on, She will show me love, just as God does.
What a great companion.
God is Great God is Good. Harley is a messenger from God.
Michael Mack, An American
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Trials- When you are behind the 8 Ball?
The most talked about example we have of trials is probably Job.
He was tried by doubts and fears and tried by Fire: Fire of discipline, persecution, bodily affliction and illness.
Job was blameless and upstanding, a man who feared God and avoided evil. Job was a man of moral integrity. In the story it evident that Satan is Bad and God is good. Satan is roaming the earth in his sneaky, conniving way looking for someone to devour. He(devil) ask God about Job, because he was looking for someone to mess with.
In the exchange between God and Satan, Satan says, “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (1:10) God not only wants prosperity but protection for His people, their families and all they own. God blesses the work of His peoples hands and causes increase, not decrease. The devil's purpose is just the opposite of God's, so it is important to remember that the security of the hedge is dependent on believing and living for God.
A heart full of fear will ultimately bring disastrous results. “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” Fear those, False Expectations Appearing Real, will bring about trouble if you let your mind dwell on it. It is a magnet for trouble. Throughout the Bible and in all of my personal development training we are taught to Trust God and have no fear and keep your mind full of positive thoughts.
Even though Job had been successful in many ways he allowed fear to fester and Satan did and will take full advantage of that weakness if we let him. Job’s livestock was stolen; his servants and his children were killed. Job’s reaction was to fall on his knees and worship God. If that was not enough, after he worshiped God, Satan afflicted him with boils all over his body. Even his wife, as many families do they turn on themselves during times of hardship, told him to “Curse God and die.” But, Job did not blame God for anything happening to him, “Job did not sin with his lips” (Job1:22)
To add insult to injury his friends tried to analyze what was wrong and they started judging that Job must have been guilty of something, if he was upright and pure none of this would have happened, but sometimes bad things happen to good people just like Job. His friends continued to badger him until Job had had enough.
Job finally defended himself. “What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But you forgers of lies, you are all worthless physicians.” (13:2, 4) “Miserable comforters are you all!” (16:2) “How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.” (19:2, 3) Job stood his ground, speaking words still powerful and valuable for Christians today. “Far be it from me that I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.” (27:5, 6)
Remember at the beginning of this story we talked about one of the Great lessons in Job is that God is Good and Satan is bad, well, “And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10) God literally doubled all that Job had in the beginning.
So, how does this relate to me today?
It is not impressive for us to be blessed when everyone is being promoted, the economy is good, business is great and everybody around us is being blessed. But when times are hard and all the news reports we hear is nothing but bad news and it seems like the news is “nobody is going to make it;” then, God looks for his faithful, the ones who still believe even during the bad times. God shows up and does something miraculous or extraordinary that is when we have our greatest testimony. That is when there is no other answer but GOD, Him alone in all His Glory.
Stay Faithful, be a person who seeks God, Keep your eyes and heart open and let God Show up and Show out.
He was tried by doubts and fears and tried by Fire: Fire of discipline, persecution, bodily affliction and illness.
Job was blameless and upstanding, a man who feared God and avoided evil. Job was a man of moral integrity. In the story it evident that Satan is Bad and God is good. Satan is roaming the earth in his sneaky, conniving way looking for someone to devour. He(devil) ask God about Job, because he was looking for someone to mess with.
In the exchange between God and Satan, Satan says, “Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” (1:10) God not only wants prosperity but protection for His people, their families and all they own. God blesses the work of His peoples hands and causes increase, not decrease. The devil's purpose is just the opposite of God's, so it is important to remember that the security of the hedge is dependent on believing and living for God.
A heart full of fear will ultimately bring disastrous results. “For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.” Fear those, False Expectations Appearing Real, will bring about trouble if you let your mind dwell on it. It is a magnet for trouble. Throughout the Bible and in all of my personal development training we are taught to Trust God and have no fear and keep your mind full of positive thoughts.
Even though Job had been successful in many ways he allowed fear to fester and Satan did and will take full advantage of that weakness if we let him. Job’s livestock was stolen; his servants and his children were killed. Job’s reaction was to fall on his knees and worship God. If that was not enough, after he worshiped God, Satan afflicted him with boils all over his body. Even his wife, as many families do they turn on themselves during times of hardship, told him to “Curse God and die.” But, Job did not blame God for anything happening to him, “Job did not sin with his lips” (Job1:22)
To add insult to injury his friends tried to analyze what was wrong and they started judging that Job must have been guilty of something, if he was upright and pure none of this would have happened, but sometimes bad things happen to good people just like Job. His friends continued to badger him until Job had had enough.
Job finally defended himself. “What you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But you forgers of lies, you are all worthless physicians.” (13:2, 4) “Miserable comforters are you all!” (16:2) “How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with words? These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that you have wronged me.” (19:2, 3) Job stood his ground, speaking words still powerful and valuable for Christians today. “Far be it from me that I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.” (27:5, 6)
Remember at the beginning of this story we talked about one of the Great lessons in Job is that God is Good and Satan is bad, well, “And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” (42:10) God literally doubled all that Job had in the beginning.
So, how does this relate to me today?
It is not impressive for us to be blessed when everyone is being promoted, the economy is good, business is great and everybody around us is being blessed. But when times are hard and all the news reports we hear is nothing but bad news and it seems like the news is “nobody is going to make it;” then, God looks for his faithful, the ones who still believe even during the bad times. God shows up and does something miraculous or extraordinary that is when we have our greatest testimony. That is when there is no other answer but GOD, Him alone in all His Glory.
Stay Faithful, be a person who seeks God, Keep your eyes and heart open and let God Show up and Show out.
Judging Others
Posted November 30, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Judging
And why beholdest thou the moat that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider-est not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matt 7:3 (KJV) to make a point about the human impulse to judge others while ignoring our own faults. Tend to your own flaws, Jesus teaches, before you get too upset about others’.
Why is it that the human impulse no matter what happens to someone else in their life we automatically try to wonder what got them there, or what did they do? or begin to jump to conclusions and begin the judgment process on them?
Do you start from the premise that people are generally good or that people are generally bad?
I heard a story about a neighbor who looked outside the window at the neighbors laundry and then complained to her husband about how dirty the laundry was on her neighbors clothes line: she pointed out how dirty the whites were, how the blue jeans had a gray tint to them and she could not believe how dirty all the clothes looked, and how she would be ashamed to let her family wear clothes that dirty! After a couple of days the husband got up early one morning and cleaned the windows. The next time the wife looked out the window she was amazed at how clean the clothes were, she commented to her husband that the lady must have got her washer fixed because now the clothes looked clean, the husband told the wife he got up early and cleaned our windows. The woman had been looking through a dirty filter and that is why they now looked looked clean. Now, you can change the role of the husband and wife and we are both guilty of looking at other peoples laundry through a dirty filter. WE should make sure our house is in order before we start condemning someone Else’s house. This can be applied to all areas of life!
Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins. - Sioux Indian prayer
Categories: Judging
And why beholdest thou the moat that is in thy brother’s eye, but consider-est not the beam that is in thine own eye? Matt 7:3 (KJV) to make a point about the human impulse to judge others while ignoring our own faults. Tend to your own flaws, Jesus teaches, before you get too upset about others’.
Why is it that the human impulse no matter what happens to someone else in their life we automatically try to wonder what got them there, or what did they do? or begin to jump to conclusions and begin the judgment process on them?
Do you start from the premise that people are generally good or that people are generally bad?
I heard a story about a neighbor who looked outside the window at the neighbors laundry and then complained to her husband about how dirty the laundry was on her neighbors clothes line: she pointed out how dirty the whites were, how the blue jeans had a gray tint to them and she could not believe how dirty all the clothes looked, and how she would be ashamed to let her family wear clothes that dirty! After a couple of days the husband got up early one morning and cleaned the windows. The next time the wife looked out the window she was amazed at how clean the clothes were, she commented to her husband that the lady must have got her washer fixed because now the clothes looked clean, the husband told the wife he got up early and cleaned our windows. The woman had been looking through a dirty filter and that is why they now looked looked clean. Now, you can change the role of the husband and wife and we are both guilty of looking at other peoples laundry through a dirty filter. WE should make sure our house is in order before we start condemning someone Else’s house. This can be applied to all areas of life!
Great Spirit, help me never to judge another until I have walked in his moccasins. - Sioux Indian prayer
Speaking Faith Filled Words
Posted November 26, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Faith Filled Words
This a Prayer that I pray everyday. It gets my day started right! I hope it helps you!
This is going to be a great day I have God’s Favor. He is directing my steps; whatever I touch will prosper and succeed.
Father I thank you that my children are making good decisions, there are no strongholds against them and I speak Victory over their lives.
I’m Grateful for the blessing in the past and I am grateful for the blessings you have prepared for me in the future
Romans 4:17 “call the things that are not as if they already are.”
I am getting younger and stronger and healthier, My Best days are ahead of me.
I am getting better looking everyday: some days I look good and some days I look really good: Today I am looking really good!
I am made in the Image of the almighty God I am creative and today is going to be a productive day; everything I touch will turn to Gold.
The economy may be slow but I am blessed I am prosperous I will lend and will not borrow.
This is going to be my best year so far, I am in Gods favor, and any setback will be small and it is setting me up for a huge comeback.
I am a great listener and a great communicator. ·
I Believe In Myself. Believe In My Abilities. I Believe In My Skills.
People like me and when they meet me and talk to me they do not want to end the conversation.
Father, I want to thank you that I have your favor on my life today you are directing my steps causing me to be at the right place at the right time. Thank you that your favor is bringing opportunity to me, bringing increase and promotion and prosperity so I can share my abundance and blessing me: so I can be a blessing to someone else.
Psalms 91:2, 3: “I will say to the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. He… will deliver me..Cover me.. And shield me.”
You are my provider, my healer; you are my guide through life. I will fulfill my destiny. I am more than a conqueror; I am blessed and my cup runs over.
I declare that I am in Gods favor, I am leading others, I am strong and prosperous, I am free, and I am faithful. The seeds I am sowing will reap great rewards!
I will hold fast to your promises, I will declare that your favor is upon me and your blessing surrounds me. God is showering favor and blessings all day long: I am happy, I am blessed, I am prosperous, I am healthy, and I am free.
I will speak faith and be in agreement with God. I am well able, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, this will be the best day of my Life and my best days are still ahead of me. I cannot do anything about the past, it is gone and I have asked for forgiveness and I am focused on today because that is all I am promised. I choose the voice of faith.
I am blessed, I am favored, I am prosperous I am healthy, I am victorious, I am a victor not a victim. I will speak favor and victory over all my obstacles and challenges. My mountains will become mere mole hills. No problem or obstacle will defeat me for God is knocking them down. Every dream and every promise will come true; I believe and declare they will come to pass. In Jesus blessed name. Amen
Categories: Faith Filled Words
This a Prayer that I pray everyday. It gets my day started right! I hope it helps you!
This is going to be a great day I have God’s Favor. He is directing my steps; whatever I touch will prosper and succeed.
Father I thank you that my children are making good decisions, there are no strongholds against them and I speak Victory over their lives.
I’m Grateful for the blessing in the past and I am grateful for the blessings you have prepared for me in the future
Romans 4:17 “call the things that are not as if they already are.”
I am getting younger and stronger and healthier, My Best days are ahead of me.
I am getting better looking everyday: some days I look good and some days I look really good: Today I am looking really good!
I am made in the Image of the almighty God I am creative and today is going to be a productive day; everything I touch will turn to Gold.
The economy may be slow but I am blessed I am prosperous I will lend and will not borrow.
This is going to be my best year so far, I am in Gods favor, and any setback will be small and it is setting me up for a huge comeback.
I am a great listener and a great communicator. ·
I Believe In Myself. Believe In My Abilities. I Believe In My Skills.
People like me and when they meet me and talk to me they do not want to end the conversation.
Father, I want to thank you that I have your favor on my life today you are directing my steps causing me to be at the right place at the right time. Thank you that your favor is bringing opportunity to me, bringing increase and promotion and prosperity so I can share my abundance and blessing me: so I can be a blessing to someone else.
Psalms 91:2, 3: “I will say to the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. He… will deliver me..Cover me.. And shield me.”
You are my provider, my healer; you are my guide through life. I will fulfill my destiny. I am more than a conqueror; I am blessed and my cup runs over.
I declare that I am in Gods favor, I am leading others, I am strong and prosperous, I am free, and I am faithful. The seeds I am sowing will reap great rewards!
I will hold fast to your promises, I will declare that your favor is upon me and your blessing surrounds me. God is showering favor and blessings all day long: I am happy, I am blessed, I am prosperous, I am healthy, and I am free.
I will speak faith and be in agreement with God. I am well able, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, this will be the best day of my Life and my best days are still ahead of me. I cannot do anything about the past, it is gone and I have asked for forgiveness and I am focused on today because that is all I am promised. I choose the voice of faith.
I am blessed, I am favored, I am prosperous I am healthy, I am victorious, I am a victor not a victim. I will speak favor and victory over all my obstacles and challenges. My mountains will become mere mole hills. No problem or obstacle will defeat me for God is knocking them down. Every dream and every promise will come true; I believe and declare they will come to pass. In Jesus blessed name. Amen
Gratitude
Posted November 23, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Gratitude
This week is Thanksgiving week a time of reflection , family, friends, and blessings galore. No matter what your circumstances we have a choice each day to approach this day this gift with Thanksgiving and Gratitude. God put us on this earth not to endure but to enjoy life. As each day begins we have a choice to make Do we start the day with gratitude and thanksgiving?
Have you ever been in bed and started thinking about today’s activities? I don’t want to deal with these children, I don’t want to go to work, I have so many problems, Nothing goes right for me.
Or do you get out of bed thinking about how wonderful your kids are, How grateful you are to have a job, these problems I have are not mountains and are merely mole hills and God is preparing for me for Great things, He is blessing me and any setback I have is just a moment away from the greatest blessing of my life. With this change of attitude every morning do you know what you just did?
You just prepared for increase, greatness, accomplishing your dreams, this attitude allows God to show up and show out! In the book of James :
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
When you change your attitude at the beginning of each day you can prepare for increase for Gods favor and Gods blessings. So be in Gratitude in everything.
So this week as we reflect on Thanksgiving just remember Every day’s a Holiday, Every meals a Feast! God has you right in the palm of his hand.
May God Bless you and keep you.
Categories: Gratitude
This week is Thanksgiving week a time of reflection , family, friends, and blessings galore. No matter what your circumstances we have a choice each day to approach this day this gift with Thanksgiving and Gratitude. God put us on this earth not to endure but to enjoy life. As each day begins we have a choice to make Do we start the day with gratitude and thanksgiving?
Have you ever been in bed and started thinking about today’s activities? I don’t want to deal with these children, I don’t want to go to work, I have so many problems, Nothing goes right for me.
Or do you get out of bed thinking about how wonderful your kids are, How grateful you are to have a job, these problems I have are not mountains and are merely mole hills and God is preparing for me for Great things, He is blessing me and any setback I have is just a moment away from the greatest blessing of my life. With this change of attitude every morning do you know what you just did?
You just prepared for increase, greatness, accomplishing your dreams, this attitude allows God to show up and show out! In the book of James :
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt.
When you change your attitude at the beginning of each day you can prepare for increase for Gods favor and Gods blessings. So be in Gratitude in everything.
So this week as we reflect on Thanksgiving just remember Every day’s a Holiday, Every meals a Feast! God has you right in the palm of his hand.
May God Bless you and keep you.
The Butterfly Affect
The Butterfly Affect
Posted November 21, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Uncategorized
I Love Andy Andrews, I love His stories; The Butterfly Affect is worth reading again….
I began with a detailed investigation into a doctoral thesis written in 1963 by Edward Lorenz. In it, he theorized that a butterfly might flap its wings, moving molecules of air into motion that in turn moved other molecules of air, eventually becoming able to shift weather patterns on the other side of the world. Of course, in 1963, the theory was ridiculous. And the New York Academy of Science said so.
It wasn’t until the mid 90’s when physicists, working in concert around the world, authenticated the Lorenz hypothesis. Commonly called The Butterfly Effect, it has now been granted the status of a law. Lorenz’s broad strokes on the evolution of chaos theory have now been named The Law Of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions.
With that as a firm starting point, I found true stories such as Joshua Chamberlain and his improbable charge at Gettysburg. I discovered connections between Norman Borlaug, a man credited with saving from famine over 2 billion people, and a little boy who had been mentored by George Washington Carver. I uncovered stories about Carver himself, his childhood, and the incredible link a simple farmer’s action provided that made possible all of Norman Borlaug’s work—a hundred years into the future!
All this knowledge—this proof—affected me deeply. I began to be more effective in my daily life as I understood just how important my actions were and how incredibly valuable every person is with whom I come in contact.
Copy the link below in your web browser, A great addition to your Library of positive media!
http://www.andyandrews.com/pages/the-butterfly-effect
Posted November 21, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Uncategorized
I Love Andy Andrews, I love His stories; The Butterfly Affect is worth reading again….
I began with a detailed investigation into a doctoral thesis written in 1963 by Edward Lorenz. In it, he theorized that a butterfly might flap its wings, moving molecules of air into motion that in turn moved other molecules of air, eventually becoming able to shift weather patterns on the other side of the world. Of course, in 1963, the theory was ridiculous. And the New York Academy of Science said so.
It wasn’t until the mid 90’s when physicists, working in concert around the world, authenticated the Lorenz hypothesis. Commonly called The Butterfly Effect, it has now been granted the status of a law. Lorenz’s broad strokes on the evolution of chaos theory have now been named The Law Of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions.
With that as a firm starting point, I found true stories such as Joshua Chamberlain and his improbable charge at Gettysburg. I discovered connections between Norman Borlaug, a man credited with saving from famine over 2 billion people, and a little boy who had been mentored by George Washington Carver. I uncovered stories about Carver himself, his childhood, and the incredible link a simple farmer’s action provided that made possible all of Norman Borlaug’s work—a hundred years into the future!
All this knowledge—this proof—affected me deeply. I began to be more effective in my daily life as I understood just how important my actions were and how incredibly valuable every person is with whom I come in contact.
Copy the link below in your web browser, A great addition to your Library of positive media!
http://www.andyandrews.com/pages/the-butterfly-effect
How do you see Adversity?
How do you see Adversity?
Posted November 16, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Adversity
What do you do when you face new adversity. When David faced Goliath, did he see him as too big to miss or too big to face? Without Goliath and the adversity of facing him, David would still be a shepherd boy minding the sheep. God sent Goliath to promote David, God could have left David in the fields , but he was ready to get on with David’s future. Think about the people who surrounded David his brothers, scorned David for being out of the fields and up at the battle lines. The Philistines and Goliath mocked David Who are you what do you think your going to do? David did not have a sword or a shield. The only thing David had, was a sling shot and 5 smooth stones. The only thing David knew was he had faith in God and less equipment and the boldness to tell Goliath after the scorning. Goliath today I will slay you and feed your head to the birds. All David needed was one smooth stone.
Bring this story to today: As you face adversity do you say my business is down because the economy is down. I don’ t have the talent that they have. I can’t do this. My equipment is not as good as theirs. Look how big they are and how small I am.They have been doing this for years I am brand new.
There is an old sayin’ in Texas, It is not the size of the Dog in the fight, It’s the size of the fight in the dog! If you see nothing but the problems rather that the rewards at the end of the fight. Then you have got to get some fight in your Dog. Adversity sometimes is the key to your success. King David was a shepherd boy minding sheep with a sling shot the day he woke up and slayed Goliath. What are you waiting for?
In Chinese, the symbol for crisis has two meanings danger and opportunity, So we can look at adversity two ways? Danger or Opportunity
Big problems, Big future! Let’s get with it! Your Future’s so bright you have to wear shades….
Posted November 16, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Adversity
What do you do when you face new adversity. When David faced Goliath, did he see him as too big to miss or too big to face? Without Goliath and the adversity of facing him, David would still be a shepherd boy minding the sheep. God sent Goliath to promote David, God could have left David in the fields , but he was ready to get on with David’s future. Think about the people who surrounded David his brothers, scorned David for being out of the fields and up at the battle lines. The Philistines and Goliath mocked David Who are you what do you think your going to do? David did not have a sword or a shield. The only thing David had, was a sling shot and 5 smooth stones. The only thing David knew was he had faith in God and less equipment and the boldness to tell Goliath after the scorning. Goliath today I will slay you and feed your head to the birds. All David needed was one smooth stone.
Bring this story to today: As you face adversity do you say my business is down because the economy is down. I don’ t have the talent that they have. I can’t do this. My equipment is not as good as theirs. Look how big they are and how small I am.They have been doing this for years I am brand new.
There is an old sayin’ in Texas, It is not the size of the Dog in the fight, It’s the size of the fight in the dog! If you see nothing but the problems rather that the rewards at the end of the fight. Then you have got to get some fight in your Dog. Adversity sometimes is the key to your success. King David was a shepherd boy minding sheep with a sling shot the day he woke up and slayed Goliath. What are you waiting for?
In Chinese, the symbol for crisis has two meanings danger and opportunity, So we can look at adversity two ways? Danger or Opportunity
Big problems, Big future! Let’s get with it! Your Future’s so bright you have to wear shades….
What if today was the last day of your Life?
What if today was the last day of your Life?
Posted November 13, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Live Today
I read a book by “Life is a Gift” by Bob and Judy Fisher. The basis of the book was they interviewed 104 people ranging in ages from 5 years old to over 100. Interested in what the soon departed would say about life and what they had done, accomplished wished they had done, regretted, etc. One common theme ran through them all they wished they had more time. More time to love, more time to laugh, more time to visit with friends and family,they did not talk their cars, their houses, their bank accounts, they discussed their relationships with friends and family, some spoke of regrets, lost opportunities. Can you see how setbacks and disappointments are so minor in comparison to joy and accomplishments. Can you see how life’s events have shaped your current life? Have you identified your true treasures? Have you identified your Why’s? Have you intentionally created joy in your life and other peoples lives?Do you Love God and do you love yourself, until you love God and love yourself you cannot love anyone else. Do you have peace and is gratitude a significant part of your daily expression of life?
Have a Grateful day. Pray continually, Laugh often, spread peace and joy, Hug someone, relationships matter…that’s it!
Posted November 13, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Live Today
I read a book by “Life is a Gift” by Bob and Judy Fisher. The basis of the book was they interviewed 104 people ranging in ages from 5 years old to over 100. Interested in what the soon departed would say about life and what they had done, accomplished wished they had done, regretted, etc. One common theme ran through them all they wished they had more time. More time to love, more time to laugh, more time to visit with friends and family,they did not talk their cars, their houses, their bank accounts, they discussed their relationships with friends and family, some spoke of regrets, lost opportunities. Can you see how setbacks and disappointments are so minor in comparison to joy and accomplishments. Can you see how life’s events have shaped your current life? Have you identified your true treasures? Have you identified your Why’s? Have you intentionally created joy in your life and other peoples lives?Do you Love God and do you love yourself, until you love God and love yourself you cannot love anyone else. Do you have peace and is gratitude a significant part of your daily expression of life?
Have a Grateful day. Pray continually, Laugh often, spread peace and joy, Hug someone, relationships matter…that’s it!
I am a Person of Action
Posted November 12, 2009 by mackswords
Categories: Uncategorized
Andy Andrews describes in his Seven Decisions “I am a person of Action. I can make a decision and I can make it now!” How many times have we got up in the morning had our coffee, watched the news, had more coffee, watched more TV? And now it is Noon, and we have done nothing!
Start your day the night before. Make a list of the top 3 things you want to accomplish tomorrow and put the thing you dread the most first on the list. Get up the next day and get on with it.
start your day with gratitude, speak to the Lord, ask him for help and strength, then hit your list. Practice this for 30 days and it will become a habit. Habits you can do without thinking about them, they come naturally. They come easily with little effort. That is what we strive for a natural day with little effort, little complications, and successful completions of our wanted tasks. It is easy, we make it hard!
Categories: Uncategorized
Andy Andrews describes in his Seven Decisions “I am a person of Action. I can make a decision and I can make it now!” How many times have we got up in the morning had our coffee, watched the news, had more coffee, watched more TV? And now it is Noon, and we have done nothing!
Start your day the night before. Make a list of the top 3 things you want to accomplish tomorrow and put the thing you dread the most first on the list. Get up the next day and get on with it.
start your day with gratitude, speak to the Lord, ask him for help and strength, then hit your list. Practice this for 30 days and it will become a habit. Habits you can do without thinking about them, they come naturally. They come easily with little effort. That is what we strive for a natural day with little effort, little complications, and successful completions of our wanted tasks. It is easy, we make it hard!
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